Jalapeno Peppers

Jalapeno peppers are one of the favored varieties of chili peppers used in the north american cuisine, especially in the southern states, where tex-mex cuisine is popular. Just as other chili peppers, jalapenos too originate in the mexico. In fact, the name ajalapenoa is derived from provincial capital, xalapa in the eastern mexican veracruz state, where they cultivated by early settlers since centuries. Later, the crop was introduced to the rest of the world by spanish explorers. Botanically, jalapenos are fruit pods from the nightshade family (solanaceae), in the genus, capsicum.

Jalapeno peppers are one of the favored varieties of chili peppers used in the north american cuisine, especially in the southern states, where tex-mex cuisine is popular. Just as other chili peppers, jalapenos too originate in the mexico.

In fact, the name ajalapenoa is derived from provincial capital, xalapa in the eastern mexican veracruz state, where they cultivated by early settlers since centuries. Later, the crop was introduced to the rest of the world by spanish explorers. Botanically, jalapenos are fruit pods from the nightshade family (solanaceae), in the genus, capsicum.

Jalapeno is a perennial small herbaceous plant with woody stem growing up to a meter in height. It grows well under fertile, well-drained soil conditions. Adequate sunlight and moisture requirements are the other main factors influencing foliage, flower, and fruiting conditions.

The plant bears tiny, white color flowers after about 45 days after transplantation and green pepper pods appear after about 60 days.

Mature jalapenos generally exhibit small cracks around the shoulders of the fruit. Harvesting ripe red fruits may last over several months. The pods measure about 4-10 cm in length and feature smooth shiny skin with blunt, slightly tapering tip. Inside, each fruit features numerous tiny, white, circular, and flat seeds. The seeds cling on around the central, white-placenta.

Jalapeno is a perennial small herbaceous plant with woody stem growing up to a meter in height. It grows well under fertile, well-drained soil conditions. Adequate sunlight and moisture requirements are the other main factors influencing foliage, flower, and fruiting conditions. The plant bears tiny, white color flowers after about 45 days after transplantation and green pepper pods appear after about 60 days. Mature jalapenos generally exhibit small cracks around the shoulders of the fruit. Harvesting ripe red fruits may last over several months.

The pods measure about 4-10 cm in length and feature smooth shiny skin with blunt, slightly tapering tip. Inside, each fruit features numerous tiny, white, circular, and flat seeds. The seeds cling on around the central, white-placenta. As in other chili peppers, jalapenos also have a strong spicy taste that comes to them from certain active alkaloid compounds; capsaicin, capsanthin and capsorubin. On the scoville scale hotness scale, jalapea plus-minus os fall in medium-hot range 2,500-4,000 ascoville heat unitsa (shu). On comparison, sweet bell peppers have zero units, and mexican habaa plus-minus eros have 200,000 to 500,000 units.

Chilies contain health benefiting alkaloid compound, capsaicin, which gives them strong spicy pungent character. Tolerance level of peppers in human beings, including jalapeno peppers, may have wide individual variations. Wherever feasible, they should be consumed in moderation to avoid any untoward experiences. Nonetheless, they packed with an impressive list of phto-chemical compounds that are known to have disease preventing and health promoting properties.

Capsaicin has been found to have anti-bacterial, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic, and anti-diabetic properties, at least in some early laboratory studies on experimental mammals. It also found to reduce ldl-cholesterol levels in obese individuals.

Fresh jalapeno peppers are rich source of vitamin-c. Ripe fruits have more of this vitamin than raw greens. 100 g provide about 118.6 ag or about 198% of rda. Vitamin c is a potent water-soluble antioxidant. It is required for the collagen synthesis within the body. Collagen is the main structural protein required for maintaining the integrity of blood vessels, skin, tissues, organs, and bones. Regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin c helps the body protect from scurvy; develop resistance against infectious agents (boosts immunity) and scavenge harmful,pro-inflammatory free-radicals from the body.

Furthermore, they contain other valuable antioxidants such as vitamin a, and flavonoids like beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, zea xanthin, and cryptoxanthin. These antioxidant substances in capsicum help to protect the body from injurious effects of free-radicals generated from stress and disease conditions.

Jalapeno chillies characteristically contain more pyridoxine, vitamin e, vitamin k than other varieties of peppers. Vitamin k increases bone mass by promoting osteotrophic activity in the bones. It also has the beneficial effect in alzheimer's disease patients by limiting neuronal damage in their brain.

As in other chili peppers, jalapenos also have a strong spicy taste that comes to them from certain active alkaloid compounds; capsaicin, capsanthin and capsorubin. On the scoville scale hotness scale, jalapea plus-minus os fall in medium-hot range 2,500-4,000 ascoville heat unitsa (shu).

On comparison, sweet bell peppers have zero units, and mexican habaa plus-minus eros have 200,000 to 500,000 units. Health benefits of jalapeno pepperschilies contain health benefiting alkaloid compound, capsaicin, which gives them strong spicy pungent character. Tolerance level of peppers in human beings, including jalapeno peppers, may have wide individual variations.

Wherever feasible, they should be consumed in moderation to avoid any untoward experiences. Nonetheless, they packed with an impressive list of phto-chemical compounds that are known to have disease preventing and health promoting properties.

Capsaicin has been found to have anti-bacterial, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic, and anti-diabetic properties, at least in some early laboratory studies on experimental mammals. It also found to reduce ldl-cholesterol levels in obese individuals.

Fresh jalapeno peppers are rich source of vitamin-c. Ripe fruits have more of this vitamin than raw greens. 100 g provide about 118. 6 ag or about 198% of rda.

Vitamin c is a potent water-soluble antioxidant. It is required for the collagen synthesis within the body. Collagen is the main structural protein required for maintaining the integrity of blood vessels, skin, tissues, organs, and bones.

Regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin c helps the body protect from scurvy; develop resistance against infectious agents (boosts immunity) and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free-radicals from the body.

Furthermore, they contain other valuable antioxidants such as vitamin a, and flavonoids like beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, zea xanthin, and cryptoxanthin. These antioxidant substances in capsicum help to protect the body from injurious effects of free-radicals generated from stress and disease conditions.

Jalapeno chillies characteristically contain more pyridoxine, vitamin e, vitamin k than other varieties of peppers.

Vitamin k increases bone mass by promoting osteotrophic activity in the bones. It also has the beneficial effect in alzheimer's disease patients by limiting neuronal damage in their brain.